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Support for Bruce refurbishment remains high in Bruce, Grey and Huron counties

April 7, 2014

The vast majority of residents polled in Bruce, Grey and Huron counties support the refurbishment of six nuclear units at Bruce Power.

In recent polling conducted by Ipsos Reid, 83 per cent of 500 local residents polled said they are in favour refurbishing Bruce Power Units 3-8 over the next two decades, as outlined in Ontario's recent Long-Term Energy Plan review. The first refurbishment is slated to begin in Unit 4 in August 2016.

'Considering jobs and employment was of the most concern to those polled, and the positive role Bruce Power plays in Ontario's electricity market, the support for refurbishment locally does not surprise me,' said James Scongack, Vice President, Corporate Affairs. 'Bruce Power's eight units provide a third of Ontario's power in a safe, reliable manner while producing no carbon emissions and creating thousands of jobs across the province. By refurbishing the site's remaining six units, Bruce Power will continue to positively impact people's health and well-being locally and provincially for generations.'

Bruce Power is currently working to turn the province's long-term energy policy into action through negotiations with the Ontario Power Authority (OPA). If a deal is secured with the OPA, Bruce Power will then seek private investment for the entire cost of the site's refurbishment and ongoing maintenance programs, which is expected to be about $15 billion. Through its unique public-private partnership, Bruce Power invests private money into the site's eight nuclear reactors, which are publicly owned assets, resulting in no risk to the taxpayer.

Over the past 11 years, Bruce Power has returned four dormant nuclear reactors to service through innovative refurbishment programs, doubling the site's output of reliable, carbon-free electricity. These highly technical refurbishments have provided 70 per cent of the energy Ontario needed to shut down its coal plants, and only one (Thunder Bay) remains in service in 2014.

Other highlights from the polling include 84 per cent have a positive impression of Bruce Power, 91 per cent believe the company operates safely, 90 per cent state it is a good community citizen, and 88 per cent are impressed by the site's security. Read more about the polling here.

About Bruce Power

Bruce Power operates the world's largest operating nuclear generating facility and is the source of roughly 30 per cent of Ontario's electricity. The company's site in Tiverton, ON, is home to eight CANDU reactors, each one capable of generating enough low-cost, reliable, safe and clean electricity to meet the annual needs of a city the size of Hamilton. Formed in 2001, Bruce Power is an all-Canadian partnership among Borealis Infrastructure Management (a division of the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System), TransCanada, the Power Workers' Union and the Society of Energy Professionals. A majority of Bruce Power's employees are also owners in the business.